Merry Christmas Around the World!!

It's finally Christmas. We celebrate tonight (and we do wait till midnight to open gifts) and will be getting together at my sister's house with her husband's family, my family, Peter and his mom, and close family friends. We made tamales and my aunt is making "frijoles con chorizo," yes, I know...very Mexican style haha. I am excited to have the entire family together and we plan to play pictionary and bingo...and will attempt to take a fairly decent family photo (wish us luck). I am also excited and relieved that the stress of Christmas is finally over. I think I bitched and complained a lot this year about shopping and how I hate the stress of the holidays, but I do have to say that the holiday season is pretty magical and I can't help but wonder what's it's like all around the world. I love to travel, and I wish I could travel around Christmas time...but 1) my family would kill me 2) The weather is not the greatest in some parts of the world and most likely flights would be cancelled and I would spend Christmas in a cold airport with stranger (sounds lovely huh?). But here is why it would be nice to get to know other places during the holidays....


Like Switzerland...


and Prague (I have been dying to go to Prague for some time now)


Parliament Hill in Ottawa


Ah, Paris!!!


Lindo y Querido, Mexico.


India...


and I had to add this one of India too, pretty cool


Hungary


Dutch City Gouda


China


Chile


Brazil


and how sweet is this photo by Axel Buhrmann in Africa


And finally...ofcourse Christmas in L.A....Hollywood!!!



and another one in Newport Beach, Ca


Wishing you all a Very Merry Jolly Christmas...and I hope Santa brings you all what you wished for, but most of all good health, peace, and LOVE!!!


XoXo

Iris

FUNNY GUY.....

Joel McHale has some serious good design taste...or at least his wife does. The December issue of InStyle featured their Hollywood Hills home and it was such a pleasant surprise (1. to see his home 2. to see that he is married with kids). Where does this amazing design taste come from? Turns out his wife, Sarah Williams, is an interior designer. Duh! I mean, funny people aren't suppose to know how to decorate too. That's too much talent for one person to handle right? haha. Anyway, their home is go-gorgeous and I love everything about it. How cozy is their living room? I am obsessed with the wall paper on the cieling...and the sun burst, LOVE!!! :-) {Click on each photo to enlarge if you would like to read article}



























I hope everyone is enjoying this lazy super rainy Sunday...it's suppose to continue raining for several days. Please please stop by Christmas eve...rain on Christmas is no fun, maybe snow...yes yes please snow ;-)

XoXo

Iris

Holiday Color Inspiration...GREEN!!

How gorgeous does Keira Knightly look in this green satin dress? Stunning!!



And I love these green shoes.{image via fotodiamor.com}



Ever since I saw Angelina Jolie in these stunning Emerald earrings, I've been obsessed. Wanted to get a pait of these green beauties in Colombia (the emerald capital) but, um...just a tad above my budget.



Some holiday decor inspiration... {via This is Glamorous}



{via Country Living}







And a bit of everyday decor inspiration using green...{via delish.com}
























{via kahunabay.com}




{via designsponge.com}




{via stylehive.com}




{via Country Living}


XoXo,

Iris

Mini Holiday Issue....

LONNY magazine...I love, and there is a mini holiday issue to keep us satisfied during this hectic time. So...once again, grab a tea or a coffee, relax, and enjoy clicking thru the pages here :-)

XoXo

Iris

Busy...but here's a tiny bit of inspiration

It's been a while since I posted, but I've been super busy during the day (blame it on the day job) and super tired when I get home that all I want to do is melt into my couch and watch some of the many TV shows that I am hooked on (Biggest Loser, The Apprentice, Friends, Chase, Netflix movies...). I really need to watch less TV.
I'm a little bummed that I got a little lazy to decorate for Christmas this year. We are going to my sister's new house for Christmas eve, so that discouraged me from decorating since we wouldn't have people over anyway...bla. I left it all to my sister to decorate :-) We are making some tamales, which I am looking forward to since we haven't made any since my mom became ill and can't do much anymore. Oh boy, and I still have some Christmas shopping to do...so not in the mood, especially when it's shopping for someone else other than myself haha. Ok so hopefully I can get back to it this week and have some more fun and inspiration to post.

But for now...I came across this Windsor Smith delight (sorry it's not Christmas-y..I'll get back to the holiday spirit for the next one). It's simple yet so beautiful...less is definitely more. I love the pillow and the fur (faux I'm going to assume) and the wood paneling on the wall is my fav, love the rustic country feel it gives, yet modern.

Have a great week

XoXo

Iris

Holiday Mantel!!

There is nothing prettier and more eye catching than a decorated mantel for the holidays. I'm bummed that I have been so busy to decorate my own mantel, but here are some gorgeous mantels that hopefully give me a little push to take out my Christmas boxes and get started.

Lets start with this gorgeous and simple mantel. Pears with a BOLD garland and burlap bows...stunning! {via southern accents}


This has got to be my favorite image...black makes it look very chic and elegant. {via southern accents}



How dreamy!! It's snowing {via marthastewart.com}

I always love how Lauren from Pure Style Home decorates her home...here she used stockings by Lara Newsom of Handmade Pretties for her Better Homes and Gardens shoot. How cozy!!


So whimsical;-) Silver is always a gorgeous color for the holidays. {via HGTV}



I love this simple idea that can be used with things you already have in the home. A collections of white jars and pitchers with pine make a gorgeous mantel.



Baby...I want this! Too CUTE!!! Messages over the mantel make a great welcome for your guests. {via HGTV}



Pine Cones! {via country living}



Silver and red...I love the berry garland. {via country living}



A perfectly displayed mantel. {via Better Homes and Gardens}



Oh I love this!!! A winter white Christmas...and how cozy does that chair look with the plush throw? White and rustic wood and browns is the perfect combo in my book :-) {via country living}



And here is some more white with some twigs...I love how this simple idea looks and I love the convex mirror too.

So, take out the decorations and get started (yes, I am telling myself this.) Hope this post has at least inspired you.

XoXo

Iris